Aside from the presidential race, other factors may lead to a heavy turnout, some said.

They include the other races, including governor, U.S. senator and representative, on the ballot, as well as the city-county consolidation question.

"We have two contested judges' races in Vanderburgh County," said Massey, also noting the school board races.

"If it got into the low sixties," he said about turnout percentage, "I wouldn't be surprised."

Matt Hanka, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Southern Indiana, said turnout should be strong because of important races at the gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional levels.

He added that the 14 percent

turnout for the 2012 primary — compared to 34 percent for the 2008 primary — is not the best indicator of what is to come in November.

"I think the government reorganization issue might bring out some numbers," he said.

Robert Dion, an associate professor of political science at the University of Evansville, doubts 2012 will be comparable to 2008.

"I mean, we had Joe Biden in Evansville the Sunday before the election," Dion said. "And Romney came stumping for (John) McCain, either that day or the next day four years ago.

"Everybody was just on fire four years ago, and that fire has dimmed," he said. "So I expect turnout to go down."

Most agreed, though, that early voting because of its convenience may bump voter turnout.

In 2008, about a third of all votes were cast early, either via absentee ballots, "travel boards" for the physically impaired or library voting.

Just over 78 percent of all early votes that year came at the libraries.

"Early voting is convenient for folks because they can vote on a day and time of their choosing," Dion said.

"On Election Day there's all kinds of people — supporters — passing out materials outside ...," Massey said, "and I think some people prefer not to have that when they go in."

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that early voting at the public libraries starts Monday.